101 



mentum arachnoideum ;' and within the crustaceous integument there is a 

 thin proper membrane, closely applied to the embryo, which the same author 

 has entirely overlooked. The existence of spiral vessels, particularly in 

 such quantity, and, as far as can be determined in the dried specimens, 

 unaccompanied by other vessels, is a structure at least very unusual in the 

 integuments of a seed or caryopsis, in which they are very seldom at all 

 visible ; and have never, I believe, been observed in such abundance as in 

 this genus, in all whose species they are equally obvious." 



Geography. Found in the cold parts of Europe and North America, 

 the tropics of South America, the Cape of Good Hope, India, and New 

 Holland ; in the latter country the order is chiefly represented by Casnarina. 

 Properties. Aromatic shrubs, or trees of considerable size. Comp- 

 tonia asplenifolia possesses astringent and tonic properties, and is much used 

 in the domestic medicine of the United States, in cases of diarrhoea. Barton, 

 1. 224. The root of Myrica cerifera is a powerful astringent, and wax is 

 obtained in great abundance from its berries. The fruit of Myrica sapida is 

 about as large as a cherry, and, according to Buchanan, is a pleasant acid 

 and eatable in Nipal. Don, p. 5Q. It has a pleasant, refreshing, acidulous 

 taste. Wall. Tent. 60. 

 . Examples. Myrica, Nageia, Casuarina. 



LXXXVII. JUGLANDE.E. The Walnut Tribe. 



JuGLANDE^, Dec. Thtoric, 215. (1813) ; Kunth in Ann. des Sc. Nat. 2. 343. (1824.) 



Diagnosis. Apetalous dicotyledons, with ascending definite ovules, 

 amentaceous flowers, and a superior calyx. 

 Anomalies. 



Essential Character Flmvers unisexual. Calyx in the males oblique, mem- 

 branous, irregularly divided, attached to a single bractea ', in the females superior, with 4 

 divisions. Petals in the males 0; in the females occasionally present, and 4 in number, 

 arising from between the calyx and the styles, and cohering at the base. Stamens inde- 

 finite, (3-3f>), hypogynous; filaments very short, distinct; anthers thick, 2-celled, innate, 

 bursting longitudinally. Disk 0. Ovarium inferior, 1-celled ; ovulum solitary, erect ; styles 

 1 or 2, and very short, or none ; stigmas much dilated, either 2 and lacerated, or discoid 

 and 4-lol)ed. Fruit drupaceous, 1-celled, with 4 imperfect partitions. Seed 4-lobed ; 

 embryo shaped like the seed ; albumen ; cotyledons fleshy, 2-lobed, wrinkled ; radicle 



.superior Trees. Leaves alternate, unequally pinnated, without pellucid dots or stipulae. 



Flowers amentaceous. 



Affinities. These have usually been mixed with Terebintacese, to 

 which they, however, do not appear so closely allied as to Corylacese, with 

 which they accord in their amentaceous unisexual flowers, and superior 

 calyx. Among apetalous orders, their pinnated resinous undotted leaves 

 particularly distinguish them. 



Geography. Chiefly found in North America; one species, the com- 

 mon Walnut, is a native of the Levant and Persia ; another, of Caucasus ; 

 and a third, of the West India Islands. 



Properties. The fruit of the Walnut is esteemed for its sweetness 

 and wholesome qualities. It abounds in a kind of oil, of a very drying 

 nature. The rind of the fruit, and even the skin of the kernel, are extremely 

 astringent. Juglans cathartica and cinerea are esteemed anthelmintic and 

 cathartic ; the fruit of several kinds of Hickory is eaten in America. The 

 timber of all is valuable; that of J. regia for its rich deep brown colour 

 when polished, and that of Carya alba for its elasticity and toughness. 



Examples. Juglans, Carya. 



